Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-21
THE BATTLE FLAG ORDER.
the Spirit of Resentment By
tho old Veterans.

the spirit OF hesentmeh, oy |
the Old Veterans.
EDS. RECORD UNIoN.-A considerable |
controversy has been going on since Me-
mortal Day between the San Francisco En-
aminer and Governor Saiomen, Department
Commander of the G. A. r, of California,
The Eraminer takes exceptions to the
sentiments expressed by the Department
Commander, in his remarks on the coca
sion of the Memorial Day ceremonies
Commander Salosion explains his remarks
and reiterates his statements made on that
occasion, that when JEFF. Davis gets up at
the dedication of a monument tea Confed-
crate General, and says that he'Sdmires the
deceased, not only because he was a brave
soldier ana good friend, but because he
was one Of the stanch pillars of our Just
cause '''alsd when the speech is applsuded,
it is tire for him, IS the representative
head Of the G. A. r., to protest against such
s sensiment The different Posts all
through this Department have had their
attoxtion called to the controversy and they
have all passed resolutions indorsing the
position taken by Commander Saiomen.
The Eraminef disfaisses the matter in its
editorial columns fty stating that it is s
mere matter of sentiment and taste anG
that as the GraI.d Army of the Republic
instituted the Memorial service they should
be permitted to OBSERVE the custom to suit
| themselves, 'fbut does not think with Sc
cencv or dignity they are in a position to
undertake to '9eprecate the placing Of a
| flower on any grave at any time" The
Grand Army believes that ii is desirable
to make treason odious in the sense of
that battledborn phrase snd the way to
1
and not to strew flowers en- loyal graves
with one hand, and on rebel graves with
| the other.
| The treason, as they cali II, OF w asking
ton is nct;to be compared with the treason
of JEFF. Davis and his followers. While
one was fighting for liberty, for justice, for
mankind the other was sighting for slav-
cry, for oppression, for wrong. If the Con-
federates were guilty of no. treason, then
we were wrong in conqnerfBg them, and
wrong to-day in coeroing them into our
Union.
Does any one pretend to say
to-day that Washington was wrong
that Washington was traitor? Was the
| vic.gay at Runngmede when Magma
| Charta' was wrested from King John, a
| reasonable proceeding? That is not the
definition of treason. IF Washington had
failed he would undazbtedly have been
| treated as traitor, and would not have
! been left to go around the country dedicat-
| ing monuments to the fallen pillars of his
lost cause. But the God OF battles was on
his side and justice and right prevailed,
| and he left as heritage to his fellowmen
| the grandest government ever erected on
Gods footstool.
The erection ofTisonuments to rebel Gen
erals on account of their Confederate
service is an act of treason in itself. Why
should we honor them for their personal
bravery. Were they defending their homes
/ and tireside was war of conquest being
waged against them No. they invited the
attack and struck the first blow. If it is
their personal bravery you admire, all
down the pages OF time you can.6nd brill
iant examples of personal bravery. In
! the crusadeS in the wars OF conquest, III
pillage and in robbery-with Napoleo ii
Egypt, with Cortez in Mexico. Does any
one admire in those the brute force which
now we call bravery? Bravery when
backed by oppression and wrong become:
nothing but brute force.
History says the signing of Magma Charts
laid the first foundation to British freedom
Charles Dickens says: There was not a
that time in all England, OF anywhere else
a man so able to govern the country a
Oliver Cromwell. He caused England t
| 4
/ lords and gentlemen who have governed i
under kings and queens, in later day
would have taken leaf out of Olive
Cromwel's book"
History says Washington was first in war
first in peace, and first In the hearts of hi:
| countrymen. But what will history say o
JEFF. Davis and his rebellion-an oligarchy
whose cornerstone was human slavery
That regarded the loyal. intelligent, indus
trious artisans of the North as muGsills
/ While all other civilized and semi-barbar.
Gus nations on the face of the earth have
| voluntarily abolished human slavery, We
continually hear lamentation over q lost
cause" which had no other aim than tc
perpetuate this great iniquity.
Right upon the heels of this came the
order of the President to return the battle
flags, which has stirred the Grand Army
from center to circumference, and brought
it into unusual prominence.
Your local contemporary seems to trea
the matter with q kind of ironical levity
and yet is somewhat startled at the pertur
baton aroused among the old boys, ant
the unanimity and spontaniety with which
they responded TO the sentiment expressed
by their ommander-in-Chief Genera
Fairchild, when he called upon God tt
palsy the brain that onceived the order,
etc. 1t seems hard for your contemporary
to realize and grasp the idea that over thIe(
hundred thousand brave and loyal men
war SCARED veterans. among which ar,
some of the most brilliant intellects of oul
nation, should differ with it as to the seri
business of the matter. They feel confiden
that If some portion of the genius anC
patriotism now presioed that founded tina
journal, a loftier theme could not have en-
gagged lis attention. ]. G. MEDLEY.
| Sacramento .June'1Q 1887